FOCUS: ORANGE COUNTY COMMUNITY NEWS | NORTH : LA HABRA / ANAHEIM

Trustees Back Fee Hike for Fingerprint System

La Habra City and Magnolia school district trustees are supporting a proposed $1 increase in the county's vehicle registration and renewal program fee.

The estimated $10.5 million raised would upgrade the Orange County Sheriff's Department's 14-year-old automated fingerprint identification system, also known as Cal-ID.

District officials say they are experiencing delays in hiring because of a new state law requiring criminal checks on potential employees. State officials presently conduct the checks, which take months to complete.

If the fee hike is approved, local police departments will be able to check fingerprints in 20 minutes. School districts could use local police for the checks.

School districts and cities countywide are being asked to adopt resolutions endorsing the fee increase.